I have a friend who revels in his pedantry. He just sent me this:
Ms A Blundell
Sales Director
Leading Labels Limited
Unit 2 Millfield Lane Trading Estate
Nether Poppleton
North Yorkshire
YO26 6PB
Dear Ms Blundell
Please take care of Rufus
On Friday I visited your store at Evesham Country Park. It has been such a pleasure to go shopping with Rufus, my large Alsatian, especially when shops don’t mind me bringing him in. You have no notices on the OUTSIDE of your doors banning dogs, so in we went.
I am sorry to say we didn’t make any purchases, but there a problem when we came to leave.
On the INSIDE of your doors are three prominent notices with the familiar No Dogs Allowed symbol (except guide dogs). Rufus is a pet, not a guide dog and I am keen to comply with signs and notices in retail areas. I totally respect your wishes for me not to take Rufus out of your shop and into the main shopping concourse.
Rufus and I have not been getting on so well recently; he has developed a rather nasty habit of chewing clothing. So it was with not too much sadness that I left him behind and went off shopping on my own.
Christmas is coming, so please look after him. I am sure he will be happy playing with the all other dogs people have had to leave behind.
Yours sincerely
David Smallwood